# NTSB ANC92LA133: Piper PA-18-150, N4714Y, Mackey Lake, AK, August 18, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 18, 1992, 10:02 local (18:02 UTC)
- Place: Mackey Lake, AK
- Coordinates: 60.3204, -150.790435 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.3204&lon=-150.7904&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report September 28, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5780
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC92LA133
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5780/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC92LA133

## Probable cause

A LOSS OF POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.  A FACTOR WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE SEVERITY OF THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT INADVERTENTLY STALLED THE AIRPLANE.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Loss of control - in flight, landing
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - water

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE GRADUALLY LOST POWER (AS IF SOMEONE WAS SLOWLY PULLING THE POWER OFF) DURING A CLIMB FROM TAKEOFF AT ABOUT 300 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND.  A WITNESS (PILOT) ON THE GROUND INITIALLY OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE IN AN ATTITUDE WHICH RESEMBLED A LANDING FLARE.  THE AIRPLANE THEN PITCHED FORWARD AND DESCENDED VERTICALLY TOWARD THE GROUND.  THE PILOT SAID THAT HE MAY HAVE UNINTENTIONALLY STALLED THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENT TO THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE AIRPLANE CRASHED IN A SMALL UNNAMED LAKE, FLIPPED ONTO ITS BACK, AND REMAINED IN THIS STATE FOR THE NEXT 48 HOURS. A POST ACCIDENT EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM HARDWRAE AND THE POWERPLANT ASSEMBLY DID NOT REVEAL FAILURES OR ANOMALIES THAT WOULD INDICATE AN INOPERATIVE CONDITION. LIKEWISE, THE SOURCE FROM WHICH THE PLANE WAS FUELED WAS UNREMARKABLE. THE PILOT DID NOT POSSESS A SINGLE ENGINE SEA RATING AND HAD NOT COMPLETED A BIENNIAL FLIGHT  REVIEW OR EQUIVALENT IN 40 MONTHS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4714Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4714Y), registered now, S/N 18-8956 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 188956
- Airframe hours: 861
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Boyson, Ronald
- Registered owner: Fosse, Burt
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 4, 1992, 20 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 600 total, 250 in this make and model, 600 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point -0 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19920818032009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920818032009A), Aug 18, 1992: Piper PA18150, Mackey Lake, AK, Substantial damage. Reported power loss after departing a lake. Stalled on forced landing attempt. No mechanical. No seaplane rating.

## Other investigations on N4714Y (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB GAA18CA385](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA385), Jun 28, 2018: Piper PA18 (N4714Y), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s overapplication of the brakes during landing, which resulted in a nose-over.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.